Trade

Today’s release of the August Bendigo Bank Agribusiness Monthly Commodity Update finds that widespread rain in late July marked a turning point for Australia’s winter cropping season. Recent falls have further reinforced production confidence in NSW, Qld and large parts of WA and growers in Victoria and South Australia have also been given a renewed shot at achieving average yields or better...

Solstice Energy has confirmed the closure of the compressed natural gas (CNG) network in Maldon, which currently services 79 residences and five businesses, saying this will ultimately reduce energy costs for those customers affected.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the release of the Victorian Government's Victorian Freight Plan 2025-30, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening the freight network and delivering improved outcomes for Victorian agriculture.

Weld Australia is calling on the Federal and State Governments to take immediate and decisive action to protect Australian manufacturers, following the release of new research from The Australia Institute showing that east coast gas exports have caused wholesale gas prices to more than triple and electricity prices to double since 2015.

Dr Chris Parker. The recent decision by the Federal Government to accept that the United States has met our biosecurity standards has created immense anxiety within our beef industry, given our strong belief in rules-based trading and science-based protections.

Dr Chris Parker. The threat of lumpy skin disease (LSD) to Australia’s beef cattle industry may have fallen off the front pages, but the current outbreak in Europe proves the risk of this horrid disease remains very real. It is my view that LSD is by far and away the most likely exotic disease of ruminants to enter Australia.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the Trump Administration’s comments, following Labor’s decision to allow US beef born and raised in Canada or Mexico to be imported into Australia, seem to have validated his concern that a deal was done before the biosecurity protocols were finalised.

Former Donald resident, Mary Raynes, was among speakers at the 2025 AEGIC Australian barley seminars in China, early this month. The daughter of Donald’s Peter and Colleen Raynes, Mary was the leader of the delegation representing the Australia barley supply chain delivering the two major seminars.

NSW Farmers have backed calls for an independent scientific panel to review federal authorities’ decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. NSW Farmers’ President Xavier Martin said there was no room for error when it came to biosecurity and said a review was vital to ensure confidence that US beef imports would comply with Australia’s biosecurity and food safety standards.

The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) acknowledges the Australian Government’s announcement to reinstate access of beef processed from the United States of America into Australia. This follows conclusion of a science-based risk assessment process undertaken by the Australian Government since 2019 to determine whether beef processed in the USA sourced from cattle from Canada or Mexico can meet Australia’s biosecurity and food safety requirements. 

Territory Mangoes, NT beef, local barramundi and Kakadu plums are among the Northern Territory’s major exports – but once they’re on the plate, how many people ponder the origin of these products? A new PhD project at Charles Darwin University (CDU) will help the Northern Territory become synonymous with its food produce, providing much needed marketing support for food NT producers and manufacturers. 

Leading agronomic researcher and consultant, Mick Faulkner from Agrilink Agricultural Consultants (South Australia), will present groundbreaking findings at the upcoming Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) Annual Conference held on the Gold Coast from Tuesday 22 July to Thursday 24 July 24, 2025. Mick’s presentation, titled “Evaluation and positioning of dual-purpose cereals for the export hay market”...

New University of South Australia research is providing evidence of biological triggers of oil production in oats, a discovery that will help processing and potentially drive further demand for Australian-grown oats ... In this study, two contemporary varieties of oats were examined using spatial imaging techniques to track oil build-up during grain development.

Apple growers from across Australia will now have access to the Chinese market after the finalisation of a new trade market access deal between the two countries. During his visit to the People’s Republic of China for the Annual Leaders’ Meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Li Qiang witnessed the ceremonial signing of the deal. 

The Albanese Labor Government ... announcing further details of the $139.7 million sheep industry transition assistance package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea. The release of this detailed assistance package follows a series of industry co-design workshops held in Western Australia earlier this year.

The Opposition has slammed the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments over their deeply flawed $139 million live sheep phase-out package - calling it a political stunt dressed up as support, with no meaningful industry consultation and not a single dollar in new funding.

The Albanese Labor Government acknowledges the release of Dr Craig Emerson’s independent impact analysis of trade and competition dynamics in the grape and wine sector. The report, released today by Wine Australia, examines fair trading, competitive relationships, contracting practices and risk allocation between grape growers, winemakers and retailers.

Local stock agent Steve Gaff says the price at the Alice Springs Show cattle sale was much the same as last year or a little better. The Donald Trump tariffs "had no effect at all," probably because the Australian market is affected in a different way – 10 per cent tariffs – compared to other countries.

Kieran Finnane. Two of Alice Springs’ leading artists, Pip McManus and Rod Moss, are sharing gallery space for two outstanding separate shows at the Araluen Arts Centre until August 17 ... Beyond their interesting differences, Pip McManus and Rod Moss share many points in common: their longevity here in Mparntwe Alice Springs and their maturity as artists, to start with.

In June, three delegates from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) visited Australia to understand counter-seasonal horticulture export opportunities and interview Australian growers and horticulture experts to assess feasibility of future export opportunities and collaboration between our two countries.  

Australia is experiencing a dip in avocado production with the 2024/25 crop estimated to be down 15 per cent on last year, Rabobank says in a newly-released report ... And Australian production is forecast to rebound to record volumes – of around 170,000 metric tons – in 2025/26.

The global poultry industry has seen a relatively strong start to the year, sustained by rising animal protein prices and lower feed costs compared to last year. However, recent developments, including the announced (and postponed) US import tariffs, bird flu outbreaks in key regions, and the Israel-Iran conflict, are introducing significant uncertainty.